Premium Processing Visa Service

The processing of all visas can be long and tedious. To alleviate some of the wait and expedite the actions by the USCIS Premium Processing Service (PPS) has been implemented. It provides a much faster way to have employment based petitions & applications processed provided an extra fee of $1225 is paid, by separate check, debit card or credit card to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This payment guarantees that a processing time of 15 calendar days from the date of receipt or the USCIS will refund the $1225 and continue the case on an expedited processing basis. Upon receipt the USCIS will, within 15 days either:

• Issue an Approval Notice,
• Issue a Denial Notice,
• Issue a Notice of Intent to Deny,
• Issue a Request for Evidence, or
• Open an Investigation for fraud or misrepresentation.

Currently, the Premium Processing Service is available only for Employment Based petitions and applications and not for Family Based petitions. The initial visas are processed on either USCIS Form I-129 or USCIS Form I-140, for the following visas:

For USCIS Form I-129
E-1, E-2, H1B, H-2B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, Blanket L-1, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, R-1, TN-1 and TN-2
Religious workers (R-1) using USCIS Form I-129 will only be eligible for the Premium processing service after a successful inspection at the location of employment.

For USCIS Form I-140
EB-1 (but not multinational executives and managers), EB-2 (but not those seeking a national interest waiver), EB-3
Applicants who file with Premium Process Services for visas with annual "caps" limitations will not gain a numerical advantage in "priority" move up by such a filing. Instead a random selection process will apply to all applications received on a date certain.

Submission Process

Premium Processing is requested using the most current version of USCIS Form I-907 signed by the petitioner (not the beneficiary) or its attorney representative. The petitioner, attorney representative and/or beneficiary can pay the $1225 processing fee. The form and fee should be sent in conjunction with the employment application or if the application was previously filed then it can be filed subsequently (standalone filing) to the same filing address as the original petition or application.

If the standalone filing is sent to the wrong address the USCIS will forward it to the proper service center instead of rejecting it. Upon receipt the USCIS will provide a special telephone number and e-mail address for the processing Service Center. Again, it is important to remember that the Premium Processing fee must be paid by separate payment.